Steam-engine



(No Model.)

E A. H. MESSER.

STEAM ENGINE.

No. 364,363. Patented June 7, 1887.

7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC AMOS H. MESSER, OF CONCORD, NETV HAMPSHIRE.

' STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,363, dated June '7, 1887.

Application filed January 13, 1887. SerinlNo..l2-t,176. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

' Be it known that I, AMOS H. MESSER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Concord, in the county of Merrimac and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam Engines, of which the following is a-specification.

The object of this invention is to simplify the construction of a steam-engine, lessen the op erative parts, and consequently dispense with much needless friction, thus acquiring more power with a given amount of fuel. These results are attained by the mechanism described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, of which- Figure 1 is an end elevation, partly in section, representing my invention when taking the form of a stationary engine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view, showing a form adapted for a double-action engine. Fig. 4 represents a detail of my improved revolving piston, showing a portion in section, and Fig. 5 is an edge view of the same.

Similar reference letters sponding parts.

The piston-rod A takes the place of a driving-shaft in an ordinary engine,-and the piston B comprises a thin disk, Z), which, for convenience of manufacture, is formed separate from its hub b, to which it is attached by bolts passing through a collar, b the said disk, and a flange on said hub. On the periphery of said disk are formed two or more arms, I), which may project at an angle or radially therewith, asseen in Fig. 4. To these are bolted the follower-plates Z). The said piston-rod A is supported in bearings provided upon a suitable engine-bed, 0, upon which is formed or attached a circular plate, 0', having a central opening, 0, to accommodate said pistonrod and the cap of the bearing nearest to it, as in Fig. 1; To this plate is bolted the cylinder or housing for the revolving piston 13. This consists of the parts D D, which are bolted together through their respective flanges d d, and securedv to the engine-bed by bolts 0, joining the part D to the plate-piece 6. Each of these indicate correparts is provided with a semicircular groove, (shown, respectively, at (l (1",) which form the annular chamber E, which may have the suppl y-ports d" and exhaust port d at the required point.

The bearings in the engine-bed carrying the piston-rod are formed perfectly concentric with the chamber E. A packing of some kind is necessary for both the disk 6 and followerplates bi Many forms could be devised. Two simple forms I show in Figs. 4 and 5. The first I will describe consists of a piece of steel, F, which resembles angleiron in form,and is so bent and shaped as to pack the follower as well as the periphery of the disk, and when its ends are welded or riveted together this makes a packing for one side of two followers and the periphery of the disk all in one continuous piece, which is held in position by the follower-plates b, which are bolted to either side of an arm, 6*, and the strip G, resting upon the parts f f, secured by bolts g, pass ing between either of said parts f f and threaded to the disk I). The sides f of the packing F bear against the sides of the chamber E and project far enough beyond the follower-plates 11* to be expanded within said chamber by the action of the steam, and the sides f f 2 may be beveled slightly from the bottom outward and bear in a groove, (1", formed in either of the semicircular grooves d (1 as seen in Fig. 3, and these will also be expanded and made tight by the action of the steam in the chamber E. The other form of packing which I have shown consists of two separate parts for the disk and the followerplates, respectively, H H, the parts H being cut the exact length from center to center of either of the arms I)" on the line of the peripheryof the disk, and having their ends notched or slotted to receive onehalf the thickness of the arms b they being about double the width of the said disk I), and having their edges beveled slightly to fit the grooves r, as are the sidcsf f of the packing F, the parts H being simply ordinary ring spring-packing closely fitting the chamber E, and having their ends bear against the arms I), and resting with some force upon two adjacent parts H. These are held in place by the follower-plates b", which are turned a mod-t eratcly loose fit for chamber E.

In Figs. 1 and 2 a dywheel, I, is shown mounted on one end of the revolving piston- ICU rod A, and a small pulley may be placed between the bearings for running a governor.

In a double-action engine either of the supply-ports cl may be used, and by closing one and opening the other the'engine is reversed without the necessity of either slide or rotary valves or eccentrics.

A threeway valve, J, may be used tov advantage on either a double or single action ongine. In case of a locomotive-engine, by turning the plug j, the exhaust may be decreased as desired, which is equivalent to shortening the throw of the ordinary slide-valves, and by giving said plug one quarter-turn in one di- 20 j may be provided with a screen, j, to prevent a possible entrance by suction, when the steam is shut off, of cinders or other dirt to the piston-housing.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a steam-engine, the combination of a rotary piston rod or shaft, a piston attached thereon consisting of a disk having radial arms and follower-plates bolted thereto, and a suitable cylinder or housing formed in two parts provided with annular grooves adapted to receive said piston,and supply and exhaust ports, substantially for the purpose set forth.

2. In arotary engine, the combination, with Vitnesses:

J. B. THURSTON, NATHANIEL E. MARTIN. 

